Rescue crews seek missing boater near Gibson Island

Edward Gunts, The Baltimore Sun

Rescue workers searched Monday for a 27-year-old man from Philadelphia who fell off a sailboat near Gibson Island during an afternoon squall.

According to Sgt. Brian Albert, public information officer for the Maryland Natural Resources Police, emergency workers responded to a call shortly after 1 p.m. Monday about a man missing in the waters off Gibson Island and searched for him until 8:30 p.m.

Albert identified the missing boater as Jason Wesley Ryman of Philadelphia. He said Ryman was in a sailboat with three other people when a squall caused the boat to tip. Ryman and his girlfriend were "ejected" from the vessel, Albert said.

Albert said the other people on the boat were able to rescue the woman, whose identity has not been released, but were unable to find Ryman.

Albert said the Natural Resources Police, the Coast Guard and Anne Arundel County Fire and Rescue took part in the search for Ryman. He said the search was suspended due to darkness but would resume Tuesday morning.

Albert said Ryman was considered a strong swimmer. He said Ryman moored his sailboat near Chestertown and was sailing near Gibson Island when the squall came up.

The incident was the only instance of a missing boater in Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters over the Labor Day weekend, Albert said.